DNA allegedly belonging to a 29-year-old man accused in the brutal beating death of his lover was found at the crime scene, and the victim's DNA was found on the defendant's clothing, jurors learned during the man's trial Wednesday.

Michael Manuel Herrera is charged with murder in the July 6, 2009, death of Cesar Raul Torres, 39, at Torres' Downtown El Paso apartment. Herrera was arrested at a homeless shelter a few days later and has been in jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

During his police statement, Herrera told homicide investigators that he and Torres, who he had been dating for about six months, were at Torres' apartment the night of Torres' death, drinking and smoking marijuana.

El Paso County Medical Examiner Juan Contín testified earlier this week that Torres' blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08.

Herrera also told police he is schizophrenic.

Christine Ceniceros, a DNA analyst with the Texas Department of Public Safety's crime laboratory in El Paso, confirmed during her testimony Wednesday that tests found Herrera's DNA on items found inside Torres' apartment.

An analysis also found Torres' DNA on a pair of jeans and boxer shorts Herrera had in a bag he took with him to the homeless shelter, Ceniceros testified.

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State prosecutors then rested their case.

Among the defense witnesses called to the stand Wednesday afternoon was a friend of Torres', Victor Femath, who testified he once cautioned Torres against taking home strange men.

However, he denied ever telling an investigator with the Public Defender's Office that Torres was violent. During his testimony, Femath described Torres as respectful.

Jurors also learned more about Herrera's upbringing. Defense witness Carmen Petzold, a licensed psychologist who examined Herrera, testified that he had a dysfunctional childhood marked by drug abuse by both parents and sexual abuse, which worsened his mental illness.

She also testified a relative of Herrera took him to receive mental health treatment in 2002. That same year, he tried to commit suicide and was taken to Thomason Hospital, now the University Medical Center of El Paso.

If convicted of murder, Herrera faces five to 99 years in prison. His trial continues today in the 168th District Court before Judge Marcos Lizarraga.

Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6117. Follow her on Twitter @AChavezEPTimes